《Schism》 Clash of Classes I see cold winds surround gruff men working briskly to melt steel. Each man brings his share of effort as they work like a cluster of ants while moving and packing newly wrought iron. The brick walled factory has many windows, and the dark smoke it exudes darkly blankets the surroundings in gloom. The contrast of molten steel and ice makes the factory all the more wondrous. I walk in while being led by my father, and he meets another man. They start shaking hands, and it becomes very apparent how different their social standings are. The worker wears a baggy denim jacket with a hammer branded into its front while my dad wears a fine ivory colored sports coat over a fine brown shirt. The man¡¯s pants are filthy with grease, and he wears shoes that have not been replaced in weeks. Holes are seen through the leather, and Dark Grey socks that were once fresh cotton peek through the gaps. My dad seems to avoid this look at all cost, and constantly dons new black leather shoes that glisten from waxes. ¡°Roger that Mr. Huxley. I¡¯ll start organizing workers like you asked, and might I say that¡¯s a fine young lad you have right there. What¡¯s his name?¡± The worker says while staring at me behind a matt of messy black hair covering his face, but I could still see a yellow smile slip through the cracks as he asks his question. My dad¡¯s face scrunches for half a second before it straightens back into his usual prideful pose. ¡°His name is Anlok. He¡¯s been doing very well in school recently, and I think he¡¯ll be able to take over the company just fine someday. He''s only 7, so fresh idea getting on his good side Jenkins,¡± my dad says while nudging the man''s side softly albeit avoiding getting grease on his fine overcoat. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean no harm by it sir. Just seeing what the little guy is like is all. You do the company right now Anlok. We workers depend on people like you and your dad to keep us in work,¡± he says while flashing his yellow maw. ¡°No. It¡¯s you people who keep our company strong. I¡¯d have to be an idiot to overlook how much you work. Thank you, ¡° I say. Jenkins smiles more genuinely and his chest puffs a little more. My dad''s face forms an irritated scowl, but he decides to let it slide. The man tips his flat denim cap before heading back inside of the barely lit factory. In the glimpse of the door opening I hear sounds of loud machinery and see thin metal catwalks connecting the factory. The door closes and my dad says, ¡°Please don¡¯t encourage them son. They¡¯ll stab you in the back if you get too comfortable. Remember that poor people only act nice because we have what they want. If the tables were turned we would be the ones working so hard everyday.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°What¡¯s so bad about that? Seems like you¡¯d make a lot of good friends working so hard everyday,¡± I reply. My dad lowers his eyes to my level and replies, ¡°Maybe, but they¡¯d be the same poor people who would stab you in the back for another dollar.¡± I nod to appease my father before we walk back to the stagecoach. The four horses breath out clouds of fog and trott softly in place.The pastoral colors of the coach contrast sharply with the grey overcast day. My dad leads the way into the stagecoach, and I follow attentively. The coach driver whips the reins and the horses start trotting forwards. I look outside and see a spider web form from steel girders where a building would soon be, and behind it stands the great Tower Bridge of London. The engineering marvel shines like a pearl, and the surrounding buildings look malnourished when compared. The water blends together in an endless expanse of dull black, and soon we pass in between older buildings built long ago. Thirty minutes later we arrive at our destination. The building is a large mansion inspired by French villas. It¡¯s sharp roof stabs into the sky like an array of brick spears, and green paint covers the building as though it imitates the wood frame that lay underneath. Surrounding foliage berates my field of vision with an array of barren wooden poles and thin yellow grass. We step out of the carriage and onto the brick walkway that leads to our house. I pass by a fountain that changes into an ice sculpture for the winter, and then the large mahogany doors open revealing a familiar site. ¡°Daddy, why do you bring me along to these excursions?¡± I question. ¡°Well son. You need to learn from the best! I can show you some things about talking to people, and how to run a company right? The earlier you start the better you¡¯ll be. Besides I can¡¯t have you always at home can I,¡± he asks while rubbing the top of my head. The familiar motion made me giggle and accept his answer, but I decide on going and playing with the boy across the street to pass the time. ¡°Daddy, is it okay if I go and play with Lenic?¡± I ask while jumping up and down pleading for an answer. ¡°...Sure. Lenic is a bright boy right? Just be back in time for dinner. I¡¯m going to be in my study, and you¡¯re mom is out today with Laura, so just make sure you don¡¯t interrupt daddy while he works, okay,¡± my dad says while grabbing a hot glass of tea and heading towards his study. ¡°Okay Daddy.¡± I bring myself through the mahogany entrance and start walking through a gentle cascade of white rose petals from heaven¡¯s door. Conquering Evil I bring a large pile of wooden toys my father bought me several days ago towards a small cottage about a quarter mile from my house. The cottage was small but has a finely kept landscape surrounding it. Bushes of sharply cut quality, and trees are placed around the house just so. Every piece of the dense vegetation has a purpose, and each plant was obviously shaped a certain way.. I walk up to the front door and yell, ¡°Lenic! I have presents for Christmas with me!¡± I hear the faint reply, ¡°Be there...a second.¡± In about 15 seconds a small boy opens the door. He is slightly short, pale skinned, has black hair, and a bright red nose from working outside in the cold. His clothes are all of decent quality cotton, and his smile radiates with excitement as he sees my stash of toys. ¡°You seem to really go out with these things Anlok,¡± he says while holding open the door. ¡°Would you like the usual? Maybe some bread as well, ¡° he asks while closing the door. I respond with barely contained energy, ¡°Some tea would be fantastic Lenic. I also got presents for your sister if you want to get her.¡± I drop my belongings inside of his room past the small front area of the house used for dining, cooking, and family meals. I see the finely split room is well kept, and lenic and his sister Eva. The right side had a few dolls and a pink comforter covering the bed while Lenic¡¯s side had a collection of coins and advertisements he kept above his bed. I sit in the area and a warm collection of memories floods my mind. The time we all helped lenic find his treasured golden pound, the time Eva was accepted into her school, and the time we all visited the greenhouse together. I trace my small hand across the rough wood used when they built Lenic¡¯s bed, and then I hear Eva¡¯s voice say, ¡°A present for me you say? How bold Anlok. I guess age is just a number right?¡± The thin girl of around 10 walked into the room. Her pale skin and black hair match Lenic exactly, and even the slowest of people could see their similarities. I laugh softly before replying, ¡°These blue eyes and blonde hair are meant to woo vulnerable woman such as yourself Eva. You better back away before you lose yourself in my gaze,¡± I say while mocking a fainting expression. Eva laughs a high pitched laugh and screams as she sees her present. A small pink horse with a ribbon on it is her present. She brightly picks it up and dances with it in her hands. Lenic comes back into the room and I hand him his present. ¡°For the future chancellor of Britain! An abacus for math, and one of my favorite novels,¡± I say as I hand him the book A Tale of Two Cities and the mathematical device. ¡°Thank you Anlok! How did you know I needed an Abacus? ¡± Lenic says while his voice rises in volume. ¡°I overheard your dad say you are studying math, and I know how difficult numbers can be without that. I can barely handle an equation without it, but I know you will be able to put it to much better use,¡± I say while warmly squinting my eyes. ¡°Your so...Sweet,¡± Eva proclaims while tilting her head and slowing her voice. ¡°You...Your the best man,¡± Lenic says while jumping into my arms. I laugh and squeeze him very hard before lifting him into the air and slowly lowering him back down. ¡°The rest is so that we can play anything we want when I come over. As long as you¡¯ll have me?¡± I playfully ask while huddling them together. For a few hours we play with the different figurines pretending each one of us is a country. We made up random rules and pretended that each of us was a country, and as always...Lenic beat us at the game and conquered me and Eva. For a second me and Eva formed an Alliance before slowly being crushed under Lenic¡¯s mental might. Lenic cracks his knuckles and says half sarcastically, ¡°Not to brag but uhhhh¡­.Get stomped on loser alliance..¡± I laugh it off while Eva gets red faced and marches out of the room. Lenic looks at me and shrugs. I give him a chastising look before going to Eva. She is in the living room pouring tea and pouting. Although she is older, I was often the one who reconciled differences in our group, so it was automatically assumed that I would go and get her back. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Eva, I know he can be stupid when handling things sometimes...But just remember all the good times we had, and especially remember Lenic can get swept up in things. How about we plot preemptively to beat him together next time?¡± I say with a devilish smile. Eva brightens at the notion, and we walk back together with fresh tea for everybody. Lenic takes a slight sip and I yell, ¡°I hope you like the tea my friend because next will be the sweet taste of defeat!?¡± Lenic smirks and proclaims, ¡°Defeat by either of you is like the notion of a single ant defeating me. Accept your fates!¡± Eva¡¯s face contorts into a look of irritation before I glance at her. We both stare at each other''s eyes for a second and nod. Defeating the evil dictator Lenic takes first priority. With a righteous fury we combine our efforts from the very first turn, but it quickly becomes obvious we should have strategized beforehand. The master of evil quickly spotted our silent alliance, and planned accordingly. The slow whittling of our forces creates a panic among the leaders of the two small nations. The first one to crack is Eva. ¡°Bu-But how!? We can¡¯t beat you!¡± the leader of the small country Evaland proclaims. ¡°Imagine a world where you two could somehow cooperate seamlessly. You still wouldn¡¯t beat the master of slaughterville.¡±Tthe ruthless dictator establishes his dominance with each move and word. ¡°Maybe if we rally the troops here!¡± I point towards a small river on the imaginary map, and we settle our troops there. In one last final stand we roll the dice that decide thousands of men¡¯s lives. ¡°You cannot hope to defeat the great slaughter armada,¡± the dictator warped into an evil so great we could barely look upon his visage when I finally grab the bravery to roll the dice. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be smarter than you to win. I just need luck. ¡± I feel my pulse rapidly increase with the dictators steady cackle. Eva clutches my sleeve as I roll the dice which will define the future of the world. A great stillness fills the air as the two ivory dice tumble in slow motion, and they finally start settling. We all look with faces filled in awe at the grand conclusion. Double sixes. The battle had been won, but I would need 2 more twelves or the great evil would decimate the population. ¡°The end is predetermined no matter how hard you try to fight fate!¡± the cruel leader spat through his jaws. ¡°He can do it! We believe in him¡± I hear Eva and the men proclaim as a single unit. I roll again, and this time one at a time. A six, and then another six. War cries from a thousand small ethnicities rang through the room as our soldiers followed the miracle with ever furthering zealousness. ¡°He can do it!¡± I hear the crying leader of Evaland put all of her hopes into my profound control of fate. I feel the impossible happen. I know I will win the next impossible battle. Double sixes are assured. ¡°Is it the impossible?! Have I been defeated merely by parlor tricks?¡± the designer of treachery stammered as the dice flew. Double sixes. Tears fly and people fall on their knees. Not a single member of Evaland or Huxville is left standing. The forces of evil surrounding their last city are now defeated. The dictator throws the soldiers and starts thrashing on the ground, but the cheers of the winning party easily drown him out. ¡°Haha! Looks like we were able to take a game from him together Eva!¡± I say with newfound happiness surging through me. Lenic says, ¡°It was just dumb luck! You two could barely beat me even with 3 double sixes in a row. I¡¯m still way better.¡± ¡°But we won!¡± Eva declares. With a nasty scowl I see the evil mastermind slowly leave the scene. After celebrating our victory with some tea, I bid Eva and Lenic goodbye. I arrive home to find my family''s maids preparing dinner. I sit down at the table and everybody else quickly follows suit. For the next hour I tell them all a sweeping tale of conquest and love that was the game I played with my best friends earlier today. Chess I look around seeing my dad stare directly at me. He rubs his eyes with the familiar motion when he knows I am unraveling an old argument. I see the dark stained wood behind him that¡¯s used for the majority of furniture in our villa. The dark wood contrasts with the pastoral color design of the cloth and curtains of the surroundings, and adds a sense of new versus old internal design fighting for dominance. The ever burning fireplace gets poked by a butler before he quickly walks off giving us privacy. ¡°Dad...I think we should help Lenic get into school. His family cannot afford it, but I can tell you he will succeed no matter how difficult the classes. He is a genius through and through.¡± I say while rubbing my hands together and staring down at the floor. My dad continues rubbing his eyes, and continues the conersation. ¡°You won¡¯t give up will you? Do you really want him to carry you through college as well? ¡± my father says while removing his hands from his eyes and leaning back into his chair. He raises his hands and laces his fingers together as he looks down towards me. ¡°I can do it myself dad, but I know he can be a great investment for the company is all. We can offer him a job afterwards, and he¡¯ll be incredible in any position. I can see me and him making a great team, and...¡± I say while shifting back and forth and looking downwards. ¡°You know that isn¡¯t even a concern right now? You¡¯re in 7th grade and you¡¯re already campaigning for a friend''s charity? That¡¯s called nepotism son. You can¡¯t run a company that way,¡± my father says while leaning his head back and squinting his eyes. ¡°I just...I know he¡¯ll be great someday, and I¡¯m scared he¡¯ll never get there because he can rub people the wrong way,¡± I say while looking back up at my father. ¡°How about this son. You prove it to me, and I¡¯ll consider it, ¡± he says while opening his arms from there clasped position. ¡°Easily done father!¡± I say while grabbing one of his hands with both of mine and smiling. I walk back to my room and start thinking of scenarios that could prove to my dad how fantastic Lenic can be. Thoughts of all the times he beat me and Eva in any intellectual pursuit flush my mind. I remember how we gave him tons of different nicknames. From, ¡°Evil Dictator¡± to the more serious, ¡°Devil King.¡± We always had a name for the situation, but now it was different. I couldn¡¯t prove to my dad he was brilliant like that. So instead I¡¯d need Eva so she could help me come up with ideas. I walk towards my desk and start doing my homework. As I stare at the math problems, I realize my father is correct. I really do rely on Lenic far too much. I want to go over to his house and have him help, but I need to prove I can do this myself. Three hours pass and I pack up my things so I can go over to the Roux¡¯s house. I walk with heavy footsteps as I carry the bulk of my shame with me. I feel my dad¡¯s eyes stare me down as he shakes his head from side to side while I walk to the door. It wouldn¡¯t be so bad if I had done worse in school in my early years, but at that time school was easy. Now...I couldn¡¯t understand graphing a function to save my life¡­ I walk through the piles of brilliant snow to the street and make my way towards the comfortable little cottage I could have called my own home. I see smoke drift from its small chimney, and I can smell food being made. Eva runs up to the door and opens it from the other side. ¡°Anlok! How was school today? ¡± she said while dancing slightly and smiling. ¡°Just the usual. I mightttt need help from Lenic again,¡± I say while squinting my eyes and shyly rubbing the back of my head. ¡°Haha! We all have different talents. You just need to find yours,¡± she said with the same phrase she said to welcome me all the time. ¡°If only I could tackle things with so much beauty and grace Eva. I¡¯m only human you see, Haha,¡± I say while opening my free arm. She welcomes me in through the front door and I see their mother bringing a pile of vegetables towards the pot on top of a metal plate beside the fireplace. ¡°I hope you feel like vegetable soup today Anlok! ¡± she says while smiling and sweating from the heat of the fire. ¡°I was going to add something if you¡¯d like,¡± I pull out a large piece of beef I brought in a bag under my school supplies. ¡°Anlok delivers as always!¡± Eva sas while jumping up slightly. Lenic walks in and says, ¡°How could we possibly get along without Anlok constantly donating food right?¡± Martha slaps him with a spoon and says, ¡° I¡¯d really appreciate it if you could just pretend to not be so nasty sometimes.¡± ¡°I would appreciate it if we could give him meat from time to time. The, ¡®Anlok the Hero¡¯ bell has been rung one too many times,¡± Lenic says while coming and slapping me on the back. ¡°Looks like its meat for labor again?¡± he says while smiling and one raised eyebrow. ¡°I just can¡¯t thank you enough Lenic,¡± I say while squinting my eyes and scratching the back of my head. ¡°Is Jenkins going to be back tonight?¡± I ask while Martha continues cooking. ¡°He¡¯ll be back early today, so look forward to it!¡± Martha says while throwing her head back and laughing. I smile with my eyes and face before me and Lenic approaches the back room. Lenic and Eva¡¯s room was heavily used at this point, and each piece of furniture had it¡¯s own scuffled look. Lenic plops onto his bed by the desk in between the two beds, and I sit at the desk. I open the book and Lenic helps me through each problem as he has done since the devil changed numbers in math to letters. My translator slowly helps me through the runic moonling language as I struggle comprehending it with my feeble human mind. The incredible complexity of the symbols slowly overcomes me, and I throw in the towel first. I lay defeated before Martha gives me purpose again. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready! Come and get it boys.¡± Martha proclaims. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. We rush out of the pits of hell and into heaven¡¯s gates. I see the usual members of the family, and Jenkins was sitting at the front of the table with a slight smile glued on face. The old man works hard every day, and I can tell this was the reason why. ¡°Young Huxley is here to join us! I can¡¯t wait to see what you do with the company someday.¡± Jenkins says while revealing a slight twinkle in his eyes. ¡°I just hope I can continue to have great friends like I do now.¡± I say while looking around at Eva and Lenic. Lenic turns red and quickly responds with, ¡°It¡¯s like he doesn¡¯t even know what he¡¯s saying!¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s sweet.¡± Eva responds while giving Lenic a nasty look. ¡°I think you''re all just adorable,¡± Jenkins says while Martha places the last thing on the table. We connect hands and Jenkins says, ¡°Thank you dear father for the food we have at this table. I want to thank you for letting us all gather here today. Please bless this food and the wonderful people I hope can grow from it. In your son¡¯s name, Amen.¡± ¡°Amen, ¡± we all say in unison. ¡°Hows school going for you Eva? Anlok?¡± Martha asks. ¡°I did very well on the math and english tests, but I only made a B on the Science exam,¡± Eva says while lightly smiling and putting her hands on her sides. ¡°Well I do what I can. I¡¯m passing all of my courses,¡± I say while reverting back into my almost usual state of scratching the back of my head and squinting my eyes. Everybody laughs at varying degrees except for Lenic. ¡°Without Lenic over here I might not even be able to manage that. He¡¯s brilliant you know,¡± I say while lifting my glass towards him and smiling. ¡°He is. I know he¡¯ll make it big someday,¡± Jenkins says while wolfing down some beef stew. ¡°Yeah, hopefully no one looks down on me when I don¡¯t have an education,¡± Jenkins says while lacing the last words with venom. ¡°Honey...We¡¯ve been over this. We can¡¯t afford to put you both through school. You¡¯ll just have to rise through the ranks like your father has,¡± Martha says while smiling and looking at Jenkins. ¡°He¡¯s done amazing things for the company,¡± I say while resting my hand on his arm. Lenic turns red, and slowly starts speaking, ¡±...You think it¡¯s great to work your whole life as the manager at a steel factory? He does more work than anybody, and I know he¡¯s going to be spit out any day now. You think I should celebrate that I¡¯m destined for mediocrity?¡± The room becomes completely silent, and I feel goosebumps cover my neck. I freeze up, and can¡¯t move. Somehow Jenkins is unfazed and responds immediately with, ¡°Mediocrity? Boy you think I¡¯m mediocre? I get up early every day to work till I collapse and you have the nerve to say that?¡± I see both of their foreheads bulge with veins as they start the combat. ¡°You aren¡¯t mediocre dad. THAT¡¯S why I¡¯m so frustrated. HIS,¡± Lenic points towards me and continues, ¡°Company is SHITTING on people like you.¡± SLAP! Martha pulls her hand away from Lenic¡¯s face and says, ¡°Go to your room. Now. Take your food. Don¡¯t let me see you till tomorrow.¡± I feel tears well at the sides of my eyes as the situation plays out in front of me. I lightly open my mouth and reach out my arm towards Lenic as he rushes out of the room, but I can¡¯t muster any words. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry dear. We know how much your dad has done for us. Don¡¯t let Lenic make you think differently,¡± Martha says while holding one hand outstretched above her chest. ¡°Boy doesn¡¯t understand how bad things used to be. Back when you couldn¡¯t even get a job,¡± Jenkins says while angrily stabbing his spoon into the stew. My heart feels heavy, and I suffocate under Lenic¡¯s words. I feel a lump in my throat as I eat the rest of the dinner in silence. After we clean it up I head back to the other room. ¡°I can get your stuff if you want...¡± Eva says. ¡°I think I need to talk to him,¡± I respond. I walk through the small hallway en route to his room and knock. ¡°Can I come in?¡± I yell. ¡°....¡± I hear no response and decide to open the door anyway. Lenic was on his bed with his face in a pillow. He bites his pillow, and turns away from me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Lenic...I know it can feel like you¡¯ve been done wrong...but I know you¡¯re capable. You just need to show the adults that,¡± I say while opening my arms. ¡°...Kind of hard to do when you never get to go to school. You wouldn¡¯t know.¡± My mind was lightly stung, but I continued after flinching, ¡°...You want to go to a chess tournament with me. I¡¯m sure if you get first place you can show everybody. ¡± ¡°...You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like Anlok. I feel like nobody likes me. Like I¡¯m the shame of the famiy...Why am I always the villian?¡± he says while turning and facing me. His face is red, and his eyes are bloodshot. ¡°You aren¡¯t a villain. People just don¡¯t understand you¡­You aren¡¯t just the sum of your actions and ambitions. You¡¯re going to have a lot of friends, and I¡¯ll be one of them,¡± I say while hot beads of liquid fall down my face. ¡°You are such a crybaby!¡± Lenic says as he get up and embraces me. We stay like that for a moment before Lenic breaks us up and says, ¡°I just can¡¯t beat you, can I?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t a competition Lenic. We¡¯re all just trying to be happy,¡± I feel the words come out of my mouth. Lenic punches me softly and we laugh it off. Eva stands outside of the room and just looks at us with her arms crossing. ¡°It¡¯s gross watching you two cry everywhere,¡± she says while smiling. After about 5 more minutes of awkward conversation I leave. I give them all a hug and head back home. Whenever I arrive I see my dad reading in his chair. I look at him with an eyebrow raised and say, ¡°Want to go to a chess tournament this saturday?¡± Our Total Defeat Chapter 4: ¡°What a waste of time Anlok.¡± I say while crossing my arms. ¡°You¡¯ll see. All good things come in time, and just think about it like you¡¯re stepping on me or Eva,¡± he says while obnoxiously winking at me. ¡°They better lose in no time flat if that¡¯s going to happen...¡± I mutter under my breathe. A large cathedral located near a train station takes shape through the mist. Large columns of chiseled marble hold the masterpiece of gothic architecture up in the sky. It pierces the mist with glimmers of multicolored light from its windows and a group of people are gathering around the entrance. They wait on a large stone staircase with small railings on the side. We walk past houses lacking any flare when the brilliant torchlight church stands nearby. A plaza made of shabby bricks sounds out smacking noises with each step we take, and I can hear the bell start to ring. I close my eyes and stop as the deep bellow of the metal bell sounds the beginning of another day under god¡¯s great light. The mist slightly dampens my nose as I inhale deeply, and I trot quickly to catch back up with Anlok. ¡°So why aren¡¯t you participating then Anlok if it¡¯s such a valuable way to spend my time?¡± I say while slightly lowering my eyelids and hunching. ¡°Well some of us will actually win matches. I can cheer really loud, so I¡¯ll stick to that!¡± he says while jumping lightly like an idiot. ¡°You are so amped over nothing, and you wake me up early for what? Just to beat a bunch of children at a game. I could be working right now...¡± I say while scowling and crossing my arms. ¡°Who knows? Maybe this situation will work for you?¡± Anlok says while holding his hands in front of himself and shaking them. ¡°Well...I guess It isn¡¯t that bad. Just please don¡¯t look this stupid standing next to me,¡± I say. He nods and the clopping of our footsteps stop. The large group we just became apart of slowly mills around until a buckling noise is heard. The large wooden doors with beautiful engravings of birds open at the same time. A man in the black dressings of a priest walks past the red rug inside of the church and onto the front steps. The crowd¡¯s murmur softens silently as the middle aged man raises his hands. The man pauses and lowers his hands before saying, ¡°I can see we have a large congregation today! I hope you all can bathe in god¡¯s heavenly light today with me. Tithes can be donated at any time during the tournament over there,¡± he points towards a gold plate, ¡°Please allow me to invite you in for a wonderful time today.¡± He bows slightly and adjusts himself to allow the crowd to enter. The silent crowd breaks into conversation as we are slowly shuffled through the doors. A variety of different tables and accommodations for the tournament await us in the church. Glass sparkles and dances from a well lit chandelier in the opening room. I gawk at the architecture, and the chandelier hangs in the large opening room before the main hall. I feel a slight push as Anlok says, ¡°Getting cold feet are we? You¡¯ll do great I¡¯m sure Lenic.¡± The genuine wink and smile he sends me sends shivers of disgust down my spine. I rub my eyes as I say, ¡°You...You''re insufferable Anlok.¡± He smiles ever brighter at my reply and I sulk into the room. The priest stands at the altar above all the other tables and says, ¡°We will break you into groups in 5 minutes. Please feel free to talk and converse till then.¡± He walks to the edge of the altar and begins talking to another person about holding the event. After a short pause, he goes into a storage room for the church and brings out a set of small wooden boxes. He begins placing them on the table when Anlok says, ¡°What a coincidence this is! My dad is here as well!¡± I instantly see through his deception and smack my forehead. I close my head and hold my head up with my hand as I respond with, ¡°It really seems like you think you''re clever...¡± I tilt my head up to see him frozen in place with his eyebrows raised. It¡¯s like he thinks his plan is so full proof...I start to chuckle at his dejected face. ¡°Well I guessss I can go with it. What¡¯s the end goal? Show your dad how apt I am through a few games of chess?¡± I say while my lingering smile starts to fade. ¡°ugh!¡± he grunts and shifts his face into a devastated canyon of wrinkles. My mouth bursts into laughter automatically at his countenance. ¡°Hahah! You better not have any secrets whenever you become ¡®head¡¯ of the company my friend. You are a disaster waiting to happen!¡± I say while grinning and mock punching him. He shifts to the incredibly annoying maneurism of scratching his head while squinting his eyes. I look around and see the priest is moving back towards the altar to speak. He stands with a clipboard and a sheet of paper while he reads and calls out, ¡°Oliver Sphink, table one. Jack Harrison table one¡­.¡± The priest drones on and on until I hear my name. I approach table number 14. I sit on the wooden chair and cross my arms. ¡°Thomas Huxley, Table 14,¡± the priest says. I look over at Anlok¡¯s dad and let my jaw hang slightly. I shake my head to get a grip and when he approaches I shake his hand. The older man is wearing a fine ivory overcoat as always, and has a light beige shirt underneath. His well maintained mustache curls upwards as he throws me a confident smile. I see his moose covered hair glisten lightly against the light, and I roll my eyes as I sit down. After about another 5 minutes the priest finishes calling out the names, and an observer for the match shows up. ¡°Flip heads or tails?¡± he asks me. ¡°Heads as always,¡± I reply. The brown haired, middle aged man flips the coin and it lands on tails. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll go first then,¡± Thomas says while confidently moving his pawn forward. The game begins. Anlok walks over and leans over his father¡¯s shoulder to see the match. Like he has always done, Anlok quickly zones out and quits watching the game. He instead swaps from watching me to my father every few minutes, and he somehow sweats profusely despite the chilly morning. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Anlok attempts to lock us into his pace with his constant shifting and nervous twittering, but Thomas and I resist. After about 5 minutes the first piece is taken. A black knight. Thomas glances at Anlok and smiles. Anlok holds his breath and glances at me. ¡°You are incredibly distracting Anlok. Just leave. Besides...This game is just beginning,¡± I say while knocking over one of his bishops. ¡°hugh!¡± Anlok grunts at the proclamation and looks at his father again. The lightning between there irises strikes viciously. Anlok¡¯s completely genuine enrapturement with the scenario is so obvious a crowd comes over to see the commotion. The heat of being a spectacle gets to both me and his father as we take off our jackets. I stare him in the eye as the game truly begins. An hour winds down and we are the only table still playing. Every single player, referee, relative, and their distant cousins are here...Somehow I can see Anlok sweep the crowd into his pace, and over the hour...Thomas and I as well¡­ A large bead of sweat falls off of the blond haired man¡¯s face. He twitches ever so softly as he places what has to be the heaviest queen I have ever seen on the board. Me and him give each other a sympathetic look as we both go through the excruciating process. As he finishes placing the piece Anlok inhales sharply. The entire crowd follows suit, and they all raise their eyebrows as if watching an amazing acrobatic act. I twitch my eye as another salty droplet falls into my eye. I readjust my vision and Thomas has his hand outstretched. Anlok stares it down intently. He leans forward and holds his breath. The poor boy looks like a nervous wreck, and the crowd follows his all consuming will again. My face flares red for the upteenth time as I reach out and grab the hankercheif. Anlok¡¯s face is so close to our hand¡¯s that it seems like he will almost kiss them. I take the handkerchief away and...Anlok swaps to a gigantic grin. I close my eyes to avoid the crowds reaction, but harpies claw my ears as the crowd all sigh and comment on the gesture. ¡°What a fine match!¡± ¡°Only the finest of gentlemen really.¡± ¡°I can tell this will last quite awhile longer...¡± ¡°Can you believe the intensity! It¡¯s like we¡¯re watching two knights joust...¡± I try to internalize the immense pressure I feel, and fail by opening my eyes. I see a mirror image of myself on the other side of the board. A middle aged man in shambles. Brought to the brink by a 13 year old boy¡¯s sensationalism. The crowd starts to gather even more unbusy street goers looking for some form of entertainment. People of all walks of life crowd closer and closer as I finish wiping the sweat off of my face. I hand the napkin back quickly before Anlok can further damage my psyche. He smiles hugely as Thomas takes the small piece of clothe, and sighs as if we are the best of friends now. I hear a cascade of sighs cover we two as I lift the bishop. The sweat from my hand leaks onto the black bishop and drops onto the board. The battle of wits has long since ended, and now all that remains is a battle of wills. I stare down Thomas as I place down the piece. The awful move might have spelled disaster, but Thomas realizes that me and him are both waiting for the other to crack under the crowd¡¯s pressure. Maybe we have both already cracked under the pressure, but I won¡¯t be the first to shatter. I quickly snap up a piece and place it. With a promptness spurred on by necessity, Thomas answers with another lightning fast move. Anlok almost falls out of his wooden chair at our sudden movements, and I see the crowd swell to maximum capacity. I pick up a piece and the unthinkable happens. I see a way to lock the battle. I move my knight so he is in check. ¡°Ah!¡± Anlok and the crowd say together. At this point I am surrounded by Anlok imitators, and the man already annoys me to no end, but...Thomas has an advantage. I¡¯ve only dealt with Anlok for 8 years. The man in front of me has a full 13 years of experience. He has already stomached more Anlok than any one human should have to bear. I know I¡¯ll melt under the searing heat first...I have to fight for the draw¡­ ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve...¡± Thomas says while making the motion of flopping over his king. The crowd heaves itself closer to see the conclusion. ¡°Won,¡± he finishes dramatically while placing his king from the flopped position to a position that checks me. The crowd begins murmuring heavily about the claim. They mill it over until Anlok says, ¡°I don¡¯t think so...¡± ¡°Somehow the crowd is dumber than you Anlok,¡± I say while moving my bishop to block the move. ¡°Oh! My heavens!¡± a lady says while holding both of her hands to her face. The crowd follows suit and it heavily weighs on us both. I see my own beet red complexion perfectly reflected by his father¡¯s. My face starts to twitch, and I can¡¯t make it stop. As if my own weakness showing finally broke a damn, Thomas starts lean back and forth in his chair. The sorry sight of us both cracking under the pressure somehow greatly entertained Anlok. I know the idiot thinks we are both just thinking hard. When in reality, I have six people I have never met one foot away from me. The closer audience has sat down to allow a secondary higher row of standing people, and a further row of people standing on chairs behind them surrounds us. I feel the cold mist of the room being replaced with the humidity of human breath. Thomas looks deep into my eyes. Into my very soul, and we exchange words only people going through war can. We reach an understanding only possible through limitless hardship. I grab my king, and he grabs his. We both knock it over, and look at Anlok. In unison we say, ¡°You win Anlok. It¡¯s a draw.¡± The crowd roars. Each and every person starts clapping, and some people cheer. Men take off their hats, and women fan themselves. The final straw holding me together snaps. I look around to see the human furnace surrounding me, and I accept fate. I pass out.